Responding to Jews’ contentions that a zoning proposal requiring off-street parking at many new houses of worship would unfairly affect synagogues, the City Planning Department said yesterday that special exemptions would be available.

The source of the trouble is a proposed requirement that new houses of worship provide off-street parking, with the number of spaces based on the capacity of the largest room.

Observant Jews have called that unfair and, for them unnecessary because they are forbidden to drive their cars to most services.

The proposal includes a clause allowing houses of worship to apply for parking reductions with the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals, the planning department said yesterday.

Still, the amendment’s opponents were unmoved.

“It’s not a satisfactory remedy,” said Heshie Baron, former president of the Queens Jewish Community Council. “We’re going to make a law that’s not good for you – but don’t worry, there’s a way around it. It’ll just take more of your time and your money.”